Investment and Commercialization Support for a Project by Our University’s Technology Transfer Office

The project titled “Academy for Investment Readiness and Commercialization: Scaling and Investment Capacity of Mersin University’s Academic Startups,” prepared by our university’s Technology Transfer Office (Mersin TTO), has been approved under the Çukurova Development Agency (ÇKA) Technical Support Program.

With this project, which was awarded funding on October 12, access to investment and market scaling for academic companies within our university will be accelerated; furthermore, a sustainable, standardized, and replicable institutional support mechanism will be established within the Mersin TTO.

Highlighting the strategic importance of transferring knowledge, inventions, and technologies developed within our university into production and commercialization, our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Öztürk emphasized that the project is fully aligned with the Higher Education Council’s (YÖK) decision granting new authorities to Technology Transfer Offices.

Commenting on the project approved by the Çukurova Development Agency, Prof. Dr. Öztürk noted that this success was the result of strong teamwork. Prof. Dr. Öztürk stated, “The Çukurova Development Agency’s approval of our project is a concrete demonstration of the Mersin TTO team’s high level of awareness and competence.”

The project undertaken by the Mersin Technology Transfer Office aims to enhance the commercialization, investment attraction, and scaling capabilities of our university’s academic-based companies. The project plans to transform academic knowledge into value-added products and services, facilitate companies’ access to financing, and strengthen university-industry-investor collaborations.

Investment Roadmap Tailored for Academic Companies

In this project, which will be implemented with the goal of “enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s manufacturing industry,” the transformation of academic knowledge into value-added products and services takes center stage. As part of the technical support process, academic companies will be evaluated across 10 different capacity areas (business model, product-market fit, intellectual property, company valuation, legal structure, etc.) to generate customized development reports. The training program, which will involve at least 20 academic entrepreneurs, will cover critical topics ranging from financial planning to investor meetings.

At least 15 selected companies will receive one-on-one mentoring; at least 10 companies will be brought to a level where they can make investor presentations; and at least 5 companies will be connected directly with angel investor networks and venture capital funds.

A Sustainable Organizational Model for the Technology Transfer Office

The project aims not only to support existing startups but also to institutionalize collaboration between universities, industry, and investors. To this end, TTO staff will be involved in all analysis and consulting processes; a “Investment Readiness and Scaling Support Model” will be established within the TTO.

Additionally, the “Investment Readiness and Commercialization Handbook for Academic Startups,” to be prepared at the end of the process, will be distributed to at least 50 researchers, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem stakeholders in the region, serving as a long-term guide for technology transfer activities.

Press and Public Relations Department